Michael Gash saw a header hit the post as Cambridge United lost 1-0 to Tamworth

Cambridge United 0 - 1 Tamworth

WHEN Liam McDonald’s shot hit the back of the net for Tamworth in yesterday’s match at the R Costings Abbey Stadium, it took with it any hopes the Cambridge United players had of a Sunday lie-in.

Because while the Lambs squad were free to enjoy the delights of the Hollyoaks omnibus having picked up their first league win in eight attempts, furious U’s boss Jez George ordered his side in for extra training after seeing them slump to defeat in what was a drab encounter.

“We’ve been better than that, and it’s disappointing that having done the hard work and got three points away from home we’ve let ourselves down today,” said George.

“It’s gone now, but we’ll be in tomorrow; we’ve ruined everyone else’s weekend so the least we can do is ruin our own. We’ll sit and talk and look at the performance, because now’s not the time – if we spoke about it now I’d say some things I’d probably regret tomorrow morning. So we’ll be in tomorrow to set about trying to put it right to make sure we win the game next Saturday.

“There’s no hiding behind anything, I try and protect the players as much as I can but it’s got to be collective and today wasn’t good enough.

“The level of performance was acceptable, the result wasn’t acceptable, and the way we played wasn’t acceptable. So now we’ve got to do something about it, that’s our job that we’re paid to do.”

United made one change, introducing loanee Brett Johnson for the injured Josh Coulson in defence, while another new signing, striker Andy Pugh, started on the bench.

George’s men started well, and could’ve opened the scoring after five minutes when Luke Berry got free to meet a Rossi Jarvis corner but could only head the ball wide of the far post. Tom Shaw and James Jennings had shots charged down and it looked as though the U’s could be in for a profitable afternoon.

And though the visiting defence looked vulnerable, United’s attacking play soon faltered, with the Lambs getting men behind the ball and making it difficult for the wide men to find space. Harrison Dunk was being heavily marked by two or three players, while on the other side Ashley Carew was enduring one of those days where nothing he did came off.

With precious little creativity chances were at a premium, and as Tamworth grew in confidence Danny Naisbitt was the busier of the keepers. The former Híston stopper got down well to the foot of his post to block a shot from the busy Marlon Patterson, and also made an excellent parry to turn Sam Oji’s goalbound header over the cross-bar.

United had the ball in the net through Shaw just before half-time, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on visiting stopper Jonathan Hedge in the build up.

Overall the game lacked quality, so it was probably no surprise that the only goal, six minutes after the restart, had an element of good fortune about it. McDonald got a favourable bounce just outside the area, and strode forward before firing in a shot which took a slight deflection off Blaine Hudson and looped just over Naisbitt and into the net.

Pugh was soon introduced for Jarvis as United went 4-4-2, but still the service from midfield was lacking. And with the home crowd getting increasingly frustrated, you never got the feeling the U’s were building the momentum needed to find a way back into the match.

Shaw stung the palms of Hedge with a good effort from 20 yards, but it wasn’t until George threw an extra striker - Liam Hughes - into the mix for the last seven minutes that his team applied any concerted pressure.

Hedge parried an attempted chip from Pugh, then got a hand on Michael Gash’s far post header as it rebounded off the post to push the ball away to safety. Then Harrison Dunk got clear, but with what turned out to be the last kick of the match fired straight at Hedge who blocked with his body. An equalising goal then would have been very harsh on the lion-hearted Lambs.

Cambridge United: Naisbitt, Roberts, Jennings, Hudson, Johnson (Hughes 83), Carew (Thorpe 68), Dunk, Jarvis (Pugh 60), Shaw, Berry, Gash. Subs not used: McAuley, Eades.

Tamworth: Hedge, Courtney, Barrow, Francis, Green, Isaac, Gudger, Mckoy, Oji, McDonald, Patterson. Subs not used: Reynolds, Shariff, Wallen, Belford, Headley.

Referee: Mr R.Whitton

Attendance: 2,281 (away 83)